Welcome to the September edition of the Cloud & Modernization Newsletter! Your go-to source for the latest breakthroughs shaping the future of cloud transformation. This month we're championing purposeful modernization, spotlighting Microsoft’s agentic advancements, migration blueprints, and compliance updates that reshape how organizations scale in the cloud. See how your next move in the cloud can redefine what’s possible. ⬇️
Microsoft is redefining cloud transformation with agentic AI-powered tools that make migration and modernization faster, smarter, and more cost-effective. At the upcoming Migrate and Modernize Summit (Sept 23–24), Microsoft will unveil innovations that bridge IT and developer experiences, streamline processes, and unlock new efficiencies. From Azure Accelerate offerings to GitHub Copilot integrations, these advancements empower organizations to modernize confidently while reducing risk. This is more than a technology update, it’s a roadmap for building an AI-powered future where agility and resilience drive business growth.
For organizations seeking cloud agility without complexity, Microsoft’s latest guidance on migrating from AWS Application Load Balancer to Azure Application Gateway is a game-changer. This article breaks down the migration process, highlighting how Azure’s native capabilities deliver:
By consolidating workloads on Azure, businesses can reduce operational overhead and unlock the full potential of Azure-native services. It’s a practical blueprint for teams ready to optimize performance and future-proof their infrastructure.
Starting Nov 1, 2025, Azure VMware Solution (AVS) customers must bring their own VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) licenses. Microsoft will stop selling AVS with bundled VCF after Oct 15, 2025, but AVS remains fully managed and BYOL-ready in all regions.
Key Points:
Managing data lifecycle just got smarter! Microsoft Purview is rolling out updates to priority cleanup, now supporting SharePoint and OneDrive. This means you can efficiently delete large, stale files like Teams meeting recordings and transcripts, as well as items in a user’s Preservation Hold Library after they leave the organization. You can do this all while overriding the traditional “longest retention wins” rule. With new configuration options, adaptive scopes, and detailed auditing events, these enhancements empower organizations to reclaim storage and optimize compliance without compromising governance.
Managing resources effectively is essential for cost optimization and performance in the cloud. Microsoft has introduced a new self-service experience for App Service quota management, now in public preview. This feature empowers teams to request and manage quota increases without lengthy support processes, streamlining operations and reducing delays. For organizations scaling applications on Azure, this enhancement means greater control, faster response times, and improved agility in managing cloud resources.
Modernizing applications isn’t just about migrating to the cloud. It’s about empowering teams to innovate faster. GitHub Copilot is transforming the developer experience by bringing AI-powered assistance directly into the coding process. This article explores how Copilot accelerates modernization by reducing repetitive tasks, improving code quality, and enabling developers to focus on strategic initiatives. For organizations embracing cloud-native development, this is a game-changer that aligns perfectly with the need for agility and efficiency in today’s digital landscape.
Flexibility is key when moving enterprise workloads to the cloud. Microsoft’s new BYOL support for JBoss EAP on Azure App Service gives organizations the freedom to leverage existing Red Hat subscriptions while modernizing Java applications. This update not only reduces licensing costs but also simplifies compliance and accelerates migration timelines. For businesses running mission-critical Java apps, this is a strategic opportunity to optimize investments while unlocking the scalability and resilience of Azure.
Microsoft’s Cyber Dial Agent helps SecOps and InfoOps speed investigations by turning multi‑portal pivots across Defender, Purview, and Defender for Cloud into one menu‑driven hop. Doing so cuts navigation time significantly by up to 60%. Because it rides deep links rather than APIs, it’s lightweight to deploy (import via Copilot Studio, publish the agent, add the browser add‑on) and standardizes workflows for analysts who don’t live in these portals every day. Paired with Purview DSPM for AI, teams can flag oversharing risks from Copilot Studio agents and activate one‑click policies to enforce compliant behavior, keeping custom agents safe and governed at scale.
Intune is introducing Security Copilot agents. Starting with the Vulnerability Remediation Agent to automatically scan endpoints, prioritize risk using Microsoft threat intelligence and LLMs, and recommend or execute fixes in real time. Companion agents like the Compromise Recovery Agent and Device Compliance Optimization Agent isolate compromised devices, streamline recovery actions, and tighten compliance via report‑only pilots before enforcement. Integrated directly in the Intune admin center with natural‑language experiences, these agents accelerate response, reduce manual configuration errors, and advance Zero Trust by gating access to only healthy, compliant devices.
This piece reminds leaders that AI outcomes are only as trustworthy as the underlying data. 75% of organizations still lack a formal data quality program. It outlines a pragmatic framework, Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control, to mature data quality across your estate and continuously remediate issues. Microsoft Purview Unified Data Catalog operationalizes this with AI‑assisted profiling, no‑/low‑code rules and scoring, Fabric/OneLake integration, and alerting to pause bad data flows so governance teams can act before models or BI go off the rails.
Modernization isn’t a someday project, it’s your competitive edge today. From agentic AI to practical BYOL and cleanup wins, you’ve got everything you need to move faster with less risk. Choose one next step this week and ship it.
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